Youngsters like Ben Kinsella, the 16 year-old who was stabbed to death as he tried to break up a fight near his London home in the summer.

His devastated sister and former EastEnders star Brooke, 25, later joined thousands in a march for peace after a spate of senseless knife killings across the country.

Yet experts predict stabbings could continue to rise for the next decade, while a recent report highlighted how some children are now wearing protective vests.

Today we are launching a Be Street Safe campaign as part of our Wonderkids project, supported by Legal and General Insurance, to keep all our kids safe from harm.

Over the next couple of weeks we will offer reassuring advice and invaluable tips on how you can protect your family.

Kat Lafferty is anti-social behaviour coordinator for Dudley Council and works with young people who recently compiled a magazine about the issues of weapons, bullying, alcohol abuse and racism.

She said: “Some of these things the young people have experienced themselves, some they have seen on television or in the papers.

“Weapons and stabbings was one of the key issues. Many young people are scared of weapons on the streets.

“We found they wanted to know about the law and the consequences of breaking the law. They want to know what happens if they engage in anti-social behaviour.

“Young people are often under-reported in that they don’t report crimes against them as often as adults.”

Yet police say crime in the West Midlands has dropped to its lowest level in 18 years, with violent crime down nine per cent and robbery falling by almost 17 per cent.

Dangerous

But the force is warning young people to avoid getting into dangerous situations by taking steps to protect themselves and their personal property.

Chief Inspector Mark Payne said: “Young people face the same fears and risks as adults. These are issues about violent crime, crime against their property, speeding cars and anti-social behaviour.

“We’re actively trying to help young people understand how to protect their property and themselves.

“When people are asked how many crimes are committed in Birmingham City Centre each day, they generally think it’s a lot more than the average of 30 that actually take place each day.

“But I can reassure young people and their parents that in December we recorded the lowest levels of crime for the West Midlands for 18 years.

“That said, it’s our job to keep people safe and we’re certainly not complacent about it.”

The crime statistics could hide the fact that many young victims of crime simply do not report it, either through fear or because of peer pressure.

Chief Insp Payne said: “Sometimes young people regard being victims of crime as something that just happened to them. Many don’t have the confidence to walk into a police station and report it as an adult would.

“There is also a degree of peer pressure which has been around for years.

“I would encourage any young victim of crime to talk to the police and we will try to help them, or to get their property back.

“Young people do carry expensive property today but I don’t suppose it’s any different to Walkmen and Ghetto Blasters we used to have when I was young.

“In that sense, they are no more likely to be victims than young people were 10 or 20 years ago, but sometimes I think we fall into the trap of thinking things have changed.

“Today, however, there is lots of media and so young people see a lot more about crime and think it’s something more to worry about.

“Nationally there is more of a prevalence of knife crime but this isn’t something we’ve particularly suffered from in the West Midlands.

“There is a small percentage of crime against young people involving weapons and that is something we take very seriously.

“But again, looking back over the years, it’s not very different to the crimes between the mods and rockers using knives.

“Young people are generally safe. We don’t want them to be worrying about crime as they are less likely to become a victim now than before.

‘‘We want young people to lead happy and fulfilling lives.”

And when it comes to anti-social behaviour, officers are trying to work with young people to change attitudes and perspectives.

Chief Insp Payne said: “Groups of young people are often perceived as a problem. We get lots of complaints about anti-social behaviour.

“I heard a saying which I believe to be true and that is that what young people see as social behaviour, older people often regard as anti-social behaviour.

“We often say to people that it is just young people doing what they do. They have always hung around on streets. We’re trying to educate them on the perceptions they give off.